The Valley Economic Alliance on June 27 recognized a long-time Valley corporation, a 125-year-old university and a classic television show for their contributions to the San Fernando Valley. The awards were presented at the Alliance’s annual gala at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in North Hollywood. The Walt Disney Company was honored for not only its successful products known throughout the world but its charitable giving, volunteerism and environmental stewardship. Woodbury University, which was founded in downtown Los Angeles in 1884 and moved to Burbank in 1987, was honored for helping Southern California become a center of business, creativity and innovation by meeting its educational needs. The former NBC 1960s television series “Laugh-In” received the Alliance’s entertainment award for its groundbreaking role in TV history. The show’s producer, director and writer George Schlatter, picked up the award and was preceded in his speech by a comic routine from show regular Jo Anne Worley and remarks from Gary Owens, another cast member. The evening’s festivities were emceed by television icon and Valley supporter Bob Eubanks. Ventura County Camarillo Best: National Coatings Corp. has been named by Buildings magazine as one of its top product picks. The company’s AcryShield Roof Management ARM Systems can be installed directly over an existing roof and is a cost-effective way to extend the life of a roof. The magazine cited the energy savings, reduced maintenance and greater comfort and productivity AcryShield provides for choosing it as a top product. Antelope Valley Mojave Space: the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution recognizing the Intermediate Space Challenge taking place at the Mojave Air and Space Port. The challenge helps strengthen local students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics career fields. “Our children are our country’s future, and the Intermediate Space Challenge is just one example of how we can inspire them to be the next generation of high-tech innovators to keep our country on the cutting edge of technology development,” McCarthy said. Joining McCarthy as resolution sponsors were Congressman Buck McKeon and Congressman Jim Costa. San Fernando Valley Universal City Theme Park: Universal Studios Hollywood has officially re-opened one of the more famous areas of their lot: Courthouse Square, which was destroyed by fire one year ago. Courthouse Square is the site of more than 1,000 movie and TV shoots dating back to the 1940’s, including the “Back to the Future” series, and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The lot was dressed as Buffalo, NY for Jim Carey in “Bruce Almighty,” as River City, Iowa for the musical, “The Music Man” and transformed into the center of Sweet Apple, Ohio in the classic “Bye Bye Birdie.” Steven Spielberg used the Courthouse for his film “Amistad,” and “Gremlins,” “Village of the Giants,” and “They Came From Outer Space” were also shot there. Universal Studios kicked off the reopening of the Courthouse Square film location June 18 with a parade that included a marching band, famous movie characters and a champagne christening. All of the other backlot locations damaged in the fire, including the King Kong exhibit, are set to open in the spring of 2010. Glendale Food: Korean-influenced eatery Kyochon Chicken will open its first shopping center location at the Glendale Galleria on July 16. “We are confident that our future fans of Glendale will help us reach our goals of becoming a true staple in mainstream America,” said Steve Park, president of Kyochon West LLC. The eatery’s menu is influenced by the Korean culture accenting their specialty wings entr & #233;es and side dishes with spicy-hot, sweet and garlicky flavorings. Kyochon has four other locations in Southern California. Health: The Glendale Galleria received an award from the City of Glendale for establishing a smoke-free environment. The shopping mall made the move in support of the city’s Fresh Air Ordinance. “Glendale Galleria is proud to be part of the smoke free ordinance and we are most supportive to the city on this very healthy initiative,” said Janet LaFevre, Senior Marketing Manager, Glendale Galleria. The city passed the ordinance to limit the impact of second-hand smoke on non-smokers. Computer: Disney Computer Products and ASUS joined together to bring out the Disney Netpal, a netbook computer for children. Designed for children ages 6 to 12, the Netpal allows for parents to control online safety and content for their children and an easy to use interface to set up the computer in four easy steps. The Disney Netpal will be available in July. Disney and ASUS made the Netpal to be a no-compromise device that gives parents ultimate control, said Chris Heatherly, head of Disney’s Toymorrow team and vice president of Toys and Consumer Electronics for Disney Consumer Products. “Parents are comfortable with their kids using the Internet, but they want to be assured that their kids are having a safe online experience,” Heatherly said. Chatsworth Tour: Special effects studio Amalgamated Dynamics Inc. will host an open house with tours on Aug. 15. Amalgamated designed the creatures from the “Alien” and “Predator” films, the bugs from “Starship Troopers,” and costumes used in the “Spider-Man” franchise. The event is being sponsored by the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council and the Cinema Heritage Project. Speakers will include Amalgamated founders Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr. The day will end with the screening of a film. Reservations are required to take part in the tours and can be arranged by calling (818) 348-8657 or emailing [email protected]. La Canada-Flintridge Gear: Storm chase team Chasing4Life will offer QuakeDog emergency survival kits to raise funds for its disaster preparedness efforts. Chasing4Life is currently in a 40-city national tour that will reach more than 300,000 people. Having Chasing4Life, the storm chase team for KHAS-TV, offering QuakeDog kits adds a marquee value, said QuakeDog President Jim Gibson. Chasing4Life teaches disaster preparedness in schools, businesses, churches and community halls. The team had been looking for survival gear to recommend to its followers, said Chasing4Life Executive Director Eddy Weiss. “There is no doubt that QuakeDog carries the best line of survival kits and emergency supplies on the market today,” Weiss said. Encino Promote: AvatarLabs has created marketing campaigns for two hot summer films. For “Terminator Salvation” from Warner Bros. Studios, AvatarLabs made an online ad campaign and the “Terminate Me” iPhone app that allows users to take a photo of themselves on their iPhone and then manipulate their image to look like a Terminator. For Paramount’s “Star Trek,” AvatarLabs created a massive online campaign and early teaser campaign. Working on these campaigns has made for an exciting summer for the company, said founder and Executive Creative Director Rex Cook. “As an entertainment creative agency, we are thrilled to be a part of promoting some of this season’s biggest movies,” Cook said. Van Nuys Labeling: The first phase of a new menu labeling law takes effect on July 1. Restaurant chains with 20 or more locations must provide brochures containing nutritional information at the point of purchase. Requiring this information is a breakthrough in nutrition policy, said State Sen. Alex Padilla, who sponsored the legislation. “The way Californians order food is about to change,” Padilla said. “California is the first state in the nation to tackle obesity with menu labeling.” The mandatory brochures must contain the number of calories, grams of saturated fat, grams of carbohydrates and milligrams of sodium for all standard menu items. The second phase of the labeling law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2011 and requires that calorie information be printed directly on menus and indoor menu boards. North Hollywood Sale: Twentieth Century Props will auction off its extensive collection of movie and television props July 28 to July 31. Among the items are facades from “Batman,” “Independence Day,” “Titanic” and “Terminator 3.” Owner Harvey Schwarts is closing the business after nearly 40 years following a lengthy period of dropping rentals as television and film work slowed due to recent labor difficulties in Hollywood. Santa Clarita Valley Valencia Housing: Hunsaker & Associates-LA has been selected to assist in the development of The Crossings on Amigo, a multi-family workforce housing community in Reseda. Hunsaker will provide civil engineering support, including preparing plans for demolition, grading, utility and street improvement, as well as preparing and processing plans for erosion control, and storm water pollution prevention and mitigation. The 90-unit building is being constructed by Urban Housing Communities LLC and being funded through federal tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, loans from the Los Angeles Housing Trust Fund and the Community Redevelopment Agency.